HIST2134 The Third Reich through Documents, Lecture 6: Propaganda and Architecture 5 March 2013

Führer myth + cult: Propaganda Hitler image as saviour (Messiah) NS staged as political religion (NS party rallies) Successes in domestic + foreign policies = General misjudgement of Hitler’s true character (‘If the Führer had known …’) = Hitler himself a victim of his own myth (‘I was chosen by predestination …’) = NS regime became even more radicalised & determined to cross all borders

Nuremberg Party Rallies, Used as mass stage for announcement of NS policies in 1935 (Anti-Semitic laws) & 1936 (rearmament) Replaced parliament as people’s representative Focused not on politics but on superficial show effects appealing to emotions Used as training ground for war preparation: Military-like accommodation, sports, parades, etc.

NS Architecture: 3 Styles Heroic-fascist style of state and party buildings: For regime’s image + cultic performances Native German style of private houses, schools, youth hostels, barracks: For the alleged ‘peoples’ community’ Modern ‘objective’ style of factories, bridges: For presenting achievement in industry + engineering

NS State + Party Buildings (1) Personal reason: Hitler’s own enthusiasm for architecture Political reasons: Symbols of NS ideology + monuments for ‘eternal NS rule’ Economic reasons: Labour programs to counter mass unemployment & bring building orders for construction industry

NS State + Party Buildings (2) Functions: Mass performances celebrating Führer myth → Mixtures of Christian liturgy, Germanic cult, modern propaganda Materials: Mostly granite, shell-lime, brick stone → For aesthetic reasons → To higher value Germany’s craftsmanship Styles: Singular, compact, massive, solid = Symbols of eternity, power, rule, discipline, firmness, simplicity, tradition